Highlander
SENIOR EDITION Volume LX • Issue 7 • June 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander
The
CONTENTS
3
26
20-23 Senior Edition 3
Graduation speaker Michael G. Vickers
4-10 11
Highlander senior staff bios
Retiring teachers
15
Four years at a glance
26
Senior superlatives
17
Seniors give advice
27
Senior transformations
18-19
Senior highs & lows
28-29
College map
31
12
Moving to McLean
as a senior
20-23
13
Rejected Highlander articles
25
Throwback tunes
Where seniors see themselves in 10 years
Senior collage
32-33
Class of 2016 college athletes
Dear Seniors, We made it. Somehow, it feels like the last four years have flown by while simultaneously taking an eternity, and we know that all sorts of feelings are flying around in these waning days of high school. Thank you for being such loyal readers! Be sure to take a look at our piece on our graduation speaker, Michael G. Vickers. Vickers is a distinguished American defense official. This issue is for the seniors and is abound with fun and goofiness. Don’t miss some great spreads on high-school ‘glo-up’ miracles, best (and worst) high-school moments, senior superlatives and much more. And of course, it wouldn’t a true Highlander Senior Edition without the famed college map on page 20. Remember to flip this issue over and read the excellent Cub Edition, too! As Winnie-the-Pooh once mused, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” We’ve been lucky to report on and work with a community like McLean’s. Farewell, Liam Zeya, Ashwin Dasgupta & Jake Barnett
Highlander
The
Letter from the Senior Editors
Volume LX • Issue 7 • June 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road. McLean, Virginia 22101
Editors-in-Chief
Jake Barnett Ashwin Dasgupta Liam Zeya
Managing Editors
Sabrein Gharad Lucy Hopkins David Kagan
Copy Editor
Henry Howe
Photography Editor
Tanya Ajalli
Advertising Manager
Esme Tabra
Reporters Eva Bhandary Debbie Daniel Ethan Cherry John Corvari Jatin Dasgupta Helena Doms Lila Duvall Monique Ford Graham Gibson Nora Hashem Veronica Kim Zoe Le Menestrel Adviser
Brooke Lyons Robert Martine Peter Morell Eleanor Patrick Leena Raza Alisha Smith Khaled Soubra Sarah Therriault Danielle Walker Caroline Watkins Bora Zaloshnja
Lindsay B. Benedict
Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate. To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 First Class; Hall of Fame
‘15 Crown Finalist; ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 CSPA Gold Medalist
‘14 George H. Gallup Award
Cover photo by Tanya Ajalli
‘14, ‘15 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 1st Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award
Printed by aPrintis
Graduation to include two inspiring speakers Michael G. Vickers and senior Addie Wilkerson to deliver speeches Zoe Le Menestrel & Leena Raza Reporter & A&E Editor
F
or many seniors, the second semester has seemed to drag on forever, but the conclusion of their K-12 education is finally on the horizon. Graduation is June 20, and the senior class officers and Student Services have selected two speakers for the event. The adult speaker will be Michael G. Vickers, an American defense official who served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence within the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to that position, he was a CIA operative with the elite Special Activities Division. Vickers’s journey is a fascinating one. He began as a C student in high school and had little motivation for anything academic before senior year, when one of his teachers introduced him to the field of International Relations. This inspired him to, when beat out for the starting quarterback position at Pierce College, enlist in the U.S. Army to prepare himself for a career with the CIA. Vickers applied for service in Special Forces and scored a perfect score of 160 on the Army’s intelligence entrance exam. He quickly became accomplished in almost every area of Special Forces training: he mastered hand to hand combat, he became an expert on Soviet tactics and he cross-trained with the Navy SEALs. Before his service was up, he even volunteered to parachute across Soviet lines with a thermonuclear warhead, should the Cold War escalate into a large-scale armed conflict. Senior Ellie Thomas was one of the students who curated options for the graduation speaker. Vickers is a family friend of hers, which made it easy to reach out to him. “He worked with my dad in the Pentagon for a long time. I thought he was interesting because there’s a book which is based off a true story called Charlie Wilson’s War and he’s actually a character in the book, because it’s a true story and it was the start of his career,” Thomas said. Charlie Wilson’s War was adapted into a movie in 2007. Tom Hanks, Julia SENIOR EDITION
Discussing Defense—Michael G. Vickers (left background) joins Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and others in a 2010 Pentagon meeting. Vickers is a distinguished government official who will be speaking at McLean’s graduation. (Photo obtained via R.D. Ward) Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in this film, which portrays the CIA’s Operation Cyclone, a program created to organize and support the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War. Vickers was the chief architect for this operation and is played by actor Christopher Dunham. Beyond Vickers’ portrayal in this film and his long history of government involvement, Thomas thought Vickers could be a good speaker because of the unorthodox way he became successful. “He wasn’t the best high school student and went to the University of Alabama [for undergraduate], but went to [the University of Pennsylvania] for graduate school. It shows how people can blossom later [in life]… I think he’s going to contribute a good story on the importance of public service and using an interest that you’re passionate about to provide the security of others,” Thomas said. Meanwhile, Student Services and the administration have selected senior Addie Wilkerson as the student graduation speaker. The selection process was conducted in two parts, the first of which picked three finalists based on applicants’ written speeches and the second of which chose the official speaker based on the finalists’ verbal renditions of their
speeches. Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery was impressed by the fluidity and overall message of Wilkerson’s speech. “She has a nice way of summing up the experience of the graduating seniors at McLean. It’s a good way of looking ahead and getting students excited about their future. She also had a smooth delivery. I think everyone will enjoy her speech,” Stansbery said. Wilkerson decided to apply to be a speaker after attending previous graduations and being impressed by other student speakers. “My speech is about what makes our class really unique, and how we are pretty supportive despite being super competitive,” Wilkerson said. “I want people to remember that when we’re going to college in different communities.” Wilkerson’s classmates are looking forward to seeing her speak. “Because she is in band and color guard, I know she’ll be able to speak to athletic and artistic, as well as academic experiences,” senior Gillian Wright said. “I hope she will address what makes our class distinctive and her specific vision for the impact we might have on the future.” Page design by Zoe Le Menestrel
3
The Highlander senior staff members
Ashwin Dasgupta Editor-in-Chief “Lord of the Aux”
I met Ashwin Dasgupta in 8th grade Home Ec, and since then, we’ve slogged our way through countless classes, assignments and Late Nights together. Along the way, I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. The lad is as funny as a chicken in a bathtub, but anyone can be funny—what makes Ashwin’s humor stand out is his aversion to vulgarity and idiocy; his jokes and jabs are almost always intricate, multilayered and clever. From the subtle yet piercing roasts of Jake Barnett to the brilliant slang (‘UTTER SQUIRSTER’), Ashwin has been inducing side-splitting squawks in me and everyone else in the room for years. Ashwin also has impressive knowledge and expertise in the realm of music. I don’t remember ever playing a song that he had not heard before and everyone is always willing to let him quarterback the aux cord during Late Nights. He brought this musical savvy to his position as arts & entertainment editor of The Highlander his junior year, which really brought this sometimes wonky section up to muster. Ashwin is relaxed and likes to have a good time even as he works hard. He has been instrumental in helping establish a laid-back, banter-friendly culture among The Highlander’s staff. I’m sure that the undertones of this dynamic recipe of positivity and hard work will remain here long after he’s graduated from McLean. From the highs (like that one time we ran into Haru), to the lows (flopping and floundering like fish in math), it’s been a ride. As hip-hop legend and clever orator Aubrey Graham once mused, “Sometimes, it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” I don’t know if either of us knew what we were getting into when we first stumbled and bumbled into R-133, but it’s been one hell of a journey from our Cub Edition to our Senior Edition. I know Ashwin will see many happy returns in his future at Williams and beyond. - Liam Zeya 4
Liam Zeya Editor-in-Chief
“Commander of Colloquialisms” It’s actually pretty hard to write this, and that’s not because Liam Zeya is a person lacking in traits worthy of complimenting. Conversely, the difficulty stems from the fact that he is so well-rounded it seems like you could fit two or even three different people inside of him. Liam and I entered the journalism scene in sophomore year after disastrous one-year stints in greatly inferior electives. Sharing a drive for success, we took on every challenge with the help of Ethan Cherry, who admittedly played more of a supporting role. I remember Liam calling me out of my gym class sophomore year for a “journalism emergency;” we had to totally rewrite our first in-depth article due a recent twist. In rewriting the article, Liam somehow managed to take every opportunity he could to roast me for being in my insipid schoolissued gym uniform, which I had forgotten to change out of in haste. Liam carries himself in a near perpetual duality, moving with an air of simultaneous professionalism and leisure. Liam is a big fan of thinking. He is the type of person that would be perfectly content sitting outside all day with just a pen and a notebook (though to be truly happy, he’d probably need a thesaurus as well). Liam’s penchant to reach for the deeper meanings of things is augmented by his inquisitiveness. He is in his element asking a wide array questions in his trademark skeptical tone of voice, reflecting his unwillingness to ever approach things linearly. “Geek” and “burst” are two colloquialisms used to describe a funny situation or event and could conservatively be used to describe 50 percent of our time on staff together. Liam is a man of constant jokes and banter, stemming from his wit and general jovial character. In the future, I see him laughing his way to the bank, a PhD in philosophy, or whatever else he aspires to do or be. -Ashwin Dasgupta JUNE
Jake Barnett Editor-in-Chief
“Most Likely to Catalyze an Argument” There are many words that can be used to describe Jake Barnett: elegant, graceful, delicate, breathtaking. However, to me, Jake is a guy who never fails to put a smile on my face, regardless of the implications of his statements or actions. Jake and I have been in journalism together since day one— Journalism 1 through Journalism 4. Those days as little freshmen seem so far away now, but Jake has forever remained the kooky yet inspired kid that I knew all those years ago. Jake is the kind of guy that will never turn away when you need his help—I can tell you this first-hand, as I have many times requested his help with InDesign—and the unfortunate reality of this Senior Edition of The Highlander is that I won’t get to work with one of my best friends anymore. While Jake puts probably too much emphasis on the little things in life (and in the magazine), it’s that trait that makes Jake that much better of a person and editor. Even as I write this, I can’t help but smile at all the memories that Jake and I have. Whether it be any of the countless days we’ve spent joking around in the journalism room, his primal, unmistakable chuckle, or the never ending Late Night hustle, Jake is one of the few people that will have a lasting effect on me as we move forward with our lives. Jake Barnett is the kind of guy that you want in your corner when your back is against the wall. Few people will make it their goal to make your life easier the way that he does. I cherish the time that Jake and I had together; the time we’ve shared in my life will remain in my memory forever. -David Kagan
David Kagan Managing Editor
“Future Trophy Husband”
In sixth grade, David Kagan gently punched me in the face after I repeatedly pronounced his name as “Da-veed.” In seventh grade, he punched me again, this time in Liam Zeya’s basement, during an impromptu boxing match (the video is still on Facebook). Somehow, after four years of journalism with me, David has resisted the urge to punch me again. Freshman year, David became my unofficial journalism partner, as evidenced by the high pitched scream of “Jaaaaaaaaaake” that David would give out whenever we were told to partner up. In senior year I finally reciprocated the favor; after David rushed for his second touchdown of the game against Yorktown, when chants of “David Kagan” broke out, I gladly partook. Not many people have the same perspective of David that I have: from elementary school to now; from a fairly short 10-year-old to a borderline intimidating college football player. But David, who will be attending Hamilton College to play football, is anything but that once you get to know him. David can simultaneously partake in a stimulating discussion on current events while watching someone’s Hudl, a skill which I’m sure will come in handy at Hamilton. Part of what makes journalism at McLean amazing is the wide array of personalities that come together to work on The Highlander. David exemplifies exactly what makes The Highlander great: he brings his unique perspective and combines that with his eloquent writing to add something to our magazine that no one else could. Four years ago David and I worked together for the first time, teaming up as Cub sports editors. Ever since then, I have been able to count on him to help me whenever I need: as a reporter and as a friend. David, thanks for the memories. Please don’t punch me. -Jake Barnett
Lucy Hopkins Managing Editor
Sabrein Gharad Managing Editor
Lucy Hopkins is an enigma. Her ability to exude sympathy one second and instantly switch over to deliver one of her trademark quips never ceases to astonish those around her. How Lucy’s quick wit and perfect comedic timing are always locked and loaded regardless of the situation is beyond me; I’ve just learned to sit back and appreciate the genius at work. Lucy is an extremely hardworking person not only in her academics, but in her extracurricular activities and at home. She carries responsibilities in all parts of her life with such grace and with no expectation of appreciation or recognition and with no intention of receiving anything in return. Lucy is a perfectionist in every respect of the word—from her tweets to the minutia of her articles. The skill Lucy possesses that has impressed me most over the past four years however is her masterful ability to procrastinate. Watching Lucy complete three week’s worth of math homework or a five-page dialectical journal in 50 minutes or less is truly mesmerizing. Four years ago, I would have never thought that one of my closest friends would be a girl who frankly intimidated, if not downright scared me, in the beginning of freshman year. Now, I can’t imagine going through these past few years any other way. I know Lucy sometimes complains about her height, but what she lacks in stature she more than makes up for in her uninhibited and bold personality. Her mind is truly a powerhouse and her intelligence will leave many a mark on this school and all her future endeavors. It seems as though it was destiny that she attend UVA and follow in the footsteps of her personal hero (and spiritual mother) Tina Fey and I have no doubt in my mind that her successes will leave her twice as rich and twice as funny. -Sabrein Gharad 6
Sabrein Gharad, shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? No, because that would be cliché. You, my friend, are Pluto: small, blue and though not given proper credit or attention, not without importance or adoring fans. Also, like Pluto, lots of things revolve around you and you’re always cold. I never would have thought in freshman year that I’d be as close to Sabrein as I am now—I distinctly remember her telling Esme Tabra that I scared her, so this presumption was mostly made because I genuinely didn’t think we could have an extended interaction. But look at us now—slacking off, sharing Jim Halpert stares and being judgmental together. I’m so glad you got over your fear of me; you’re the exasperated sigh to my eye roll, the Liz B. to my Liz G. and the Poehler to my Fey. What would I be without Sabrein? A mess, but probably a successful comedienne in my own right. As Sabrein heads off to Wellesley this fall, I know she’ll do so with several abilities she perfected in this class: to slip in and out of any room or conflict unnoticed, to miss weeks worth of school and still do better than everyone else, and to write exceptional pieces quickly. She’ll also take her distinctive voice, her strong sense of self, her commitment to her goals, her love for naps and at least one locket filled with pictures of my face with her. Everyone needs a Sabrein in their lives and I plan on holding tight to this one, even though we’ll be 539.8 miles apart via I-95 north. Enjoy the harsh and frosty winters of Massachusetts. I hope the people there are warm enough to keep you from freezing to death. Good luck and good riddance, squirrel. -Lucy Hopkins
“Grillmaster”
“Gone Girl”
JUNE
Lila Duvall Reporter “Next Taylor Swift”
Brooke Lyons Reporter
“Most Likely To Go To Bed by 8:30”
I met Lila Duvall the second day of freshman year, and I can honestly say she is the only person who has truly been my best friend throughout all of high school. It is crazy to think that if I never turned around and said “hello” to the blonde girl in my Speech and Debate class that I wouldn’t have become friends with someone who completely changed my life. I have had so much fun being friends with Lila over the years, sharing laughs, experiences, and clothes, too! It has been amazing to get to work with Lila both as a partner in The Highlander and a cocaptain of the cheerleading team. Lila is an incredibly caring and driven person. She never fails to stick up for the ones she cares about— even if it means making a scene. Although we will be going our separate ways this fall, I know Lila will be incredible at CNU and I can’t wait to see where our friendship goes from here. -Brooke Lyons
Ever since the first silver day of freshman year, Brooke Lyons has been a very dear friend of mine. Both of us knowing but a soul as we transitioned into high school, we were obviously intimidated by the mountain of new faces. Little did I know that the brown-haired girl sitting across from me in Speech Communications and Debate class would become my very best friend. Brooke is easily the most caring, dependable, and goofy person I know. I’ve had so much fun working with her on the varsity cheerleading team and in The Highlander, as she’s a very reliable co-captain and partner to write articles with. She always gives 100 percent on each piece she takes on. I’ve had such a blast with Brooke throughout our journey from “cubs” in Journalism 1 to working on our last article together in the Senior Edition. -Lila Duvall
Danielle Walker. A simple name, but a far more complicated personality. If you take a look at Danielle, you’ll notice that her garb consists of an oversized sweatshirt that belongs to Ethan Cherry and shorts that you can’t even see. But if you look beyond that, you’ll see that Danielle is the type of friend you need in your life. Not only is she always there when you need her, she’s also there to crack you up. And while spending Late Nights in the journalism room, she is a constant reminder to never eat too much, because she ends up feeling sick the next day somehow. It’s been a wild four years with this girl. From freshman year where she was slightly mean to me and laughed at me for listening to music on YouTube, to now, where we’re closer than ever. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Good luck at NOVA, Dani—I hope to still complain about our problems at Starbucks since we’ll both be local! -Leena Raza
Leena Raza is a corrupt conspiracy theorist who happens to be one of my best friends. While talking over Starbucks and being terrible people in general, we have bonded over the past four years. With her conspiracy theories and stellar dance moves, she never fails to make me and everyone else around her laugh. Not only is she a good person to goof around with, she is also a great listener and is always there when I need to talk. She has something interesting to eat for lunch every day, and even though it gave me food poisoning once, I still ask for “just one bite.” We have come a long way from freshman year when I was kind of mean to her, to senior year where I still am, but now she knows I’m only joking...sometimes. I can’t wait to spend the next couple of years with her. I wish her good luck at Marymount! -Danielle Walker
Danielle Walker Reporter
SENIOR EDITION
“Best Smile”
Leena Raza A&E Editor “Sassiest”
7
John Corvari Sports Editor
Ethan Cherry Sports Editor
John Corvari, by all defining characteristics, is a gazelle. No one can doubt his gracefulness when he ventures into a late night to forage the table of food. He is always two hours tardy to these late nights because he masters his craft of swiftly running around a track mindlessly for two hours on a daily basis. No one truly knows how an animal from across the Atlantic found its way into McLean High School. One theory is that Larry Bird ventured to Africa and upon seeing Corvari saw something in him that he saw in himself and brought him back to the states, where he placed him with an American family that convinced John he was a human. The quality that Bird saw was a mystical touch that few men possess—the ability to shoot a three ball. John took this gift and developed an undeniable talent of shooting with his left hand that revolutionized every league of basketball he played in, namely McLean Youth Basketball his senior year. His natural gifts and interests in athletics made John the perfect candidate for the sports editor position. At the helm of the sports editing position he has kept the backbone of the magazine afloat this year, leaving the entire staff indebted to a gazelle convinced that he is a human. -Ethan Cherry
Three years ago, while in the midst of torching McLean Youth Basketball with a sweet three point stroke, Ethan decided it was time to move on to bigger and better things, taking his talents to the journalism room, where he immediately began to make his way up the rungs of talented writers on staff. Innovation and risk-taking is what sets Ethan apart from the pack. During editor applications last year, without ever having completed a full year of journalism, Ethan went straight for the jugular, demanding an Editor-in-Chief position and threatening to create his own competing magazine if denied the position. Although his audacious effort failed to land him the top job, The Highlander forestalled Ethan’s talk of severing ties with the magazine by granting him the sports editor position for the following year. Once Ethan double-checked with his counselor to make sure he had signed up to take journalism, the stage was set for a new star to finally shine. Overall, Ethan has been a terrific member of the magazine staff and has consistently and dependably written solid articles throughout his time on the staff. He likes to have a good time and gets along with everyone, so as a result he always stays relaxed in trying situations. Although this was actually only Ethan’s first full year in journalism, he certainly made the most of his time. -John Corvari
“Manu Ginobili”
Henry Howe Copy Editor
“Best Dressed”
“Most Likely to Correct You’re Grammar” Grammar; the thing that will tell you whether or not I used that semicolon correctly. Henry Howe; the person that makes sure in The Highlander that we use our semicolons (and so much more) correctly. Henry is our faithful copy editor and I think at this point I owe him a couple of pens because copy editing my articles requires a lot of ink. Before we had Henry as a copy editor this year, it was a regular occurrence for a smug student to come up to me after every issue and point out a grammatical error or misspelling. This year, that is an extremely rare event. Henry became copy editor through simply being around and helping us during Late Nights, exhibiting hard work and dedication, skills that (unlike grammar) can’t be taught. Henry will be attending Virginia Tech next year, where I’m sure his grammar skills will come in handy. -Jake Barnett 8
JUNE
Honestly, I think everyone is a little scared of Bora Zaloshnja when they first meet her. With just one stare, she can send shivers down the scariest of teacher’s backs (trust me, I’ve seen it happen). Her uncanny ability to keep her cool in any set of circumstances is downright intimidating. She’s not your neighborhood “nice girl.” She is fearless, bold, daring and exciting—I know I’ll never meet anyone else like her. Bora, you have taught me so much throughout these years at McLean. You have shown me true confidence and emotional strength. Thank you for seeing me for me, for never judging and even joining in on my craziest ideas. From traveling around the world with you to deeply interpreting our Buzzfeed quiz results, I know there’s nothing we can’t do together. Here’s to forever fighting the patriarchy and never apologizing for it. Love you, Queen. -Eleanor Patrick The first time I ever saw Eleanor Patrick, I was convinced she was a freshman. Petite, unassuming, innocent, and all alone, she had just transferred to McLean from Yorktown at the beginning of sophomore year. Before I knew it, she was one of my closest friends. Despite initially appearing timid, she quickly showed her bold and outgoing nature; Ellie constantly shares her mind and makes impressions on others like no other. I still think about her article in The Highlander on rape culture, and her fearlessness publishing something so heatedly debated in a high school newsmagazine. She has showed me how to be passionate, to play basketball, to step out of your comfort zone, to dance, to be yourself and just be adventurous. Thanks for being a pal, EP. -Nora Hashem Sometimes it felt like Nora Hashem and I were somewhat destined to be friends. I mean, we have pretty much the same name and almost every teacher or coach who had us both could never tell us apart. But out of all people that fate could have stuck me with, I’m so glad it was Nora Hashem. She is the type of person you can joke around with for hours about the dumbest stuff in the world (misspelled Yelp reviews of different McDonald’s, for example) but also an incredibly bright person who is informed on important issues and isn’t afraid to stick up for what she believes in, much to a certain senior boy’s annoyance sometimes. She brings that humor and passion to everything she does, be it sports, Model UN, or journalism. Being her friend the past six years hasn’t been boring for a single second and I’m so jealous of whoever gets to be hers for the next four. -Bora Zaloshnja Tanya Ajalli Photo Editor
“Most Likely To Get Your Good Side”
Esme Tabra Advertising Manager “Jordan Belfort”
SENIOR EDITION
Bora Zaloshnja Opinions Editor “Most Intimidating”
Eleanor Patrick News Editor
“Most Likely To Try Anything Once (except sushi)”
Nora Hashem Reporter “Best Eye Roll”
It’s often said that the friends you start high school with don’t end up being the friends you graduate with, but that isn’t the case for Tanya Ajalli and me. I met one of my best friends on the first day of school freshman year in Journalism 1, when we were both brace-faced dorks who bonded over our love for Zayn Malik and mangoes. Ever since that day, we’ve been best friends who would drop everything to take Buzzfeed quizzes together. Tanya’s infectious smile and incredible gift of being able to lighten anyone’s mood and make them feel loved will lead her to accomplish great things in life. No matter how far apart Tanya and I will be in the next few years, I know in my heart that our friendship will stay strong, because I can’t imagine a life without my best friend by my side, even if she’s only with me over FaceTime. -Esme Tabra Most people in high school will agree that freshman year was an extremely monumental year, one way or another. Not that much happened freshman year personally, but it was the year that I first met Esme Tabra so I would agree that it was a pretty life-changing year. When I first met Esme in Journalism 1 we were both very ugly, which is great because we otherwise wouldn’t have had the courage to talk to each other. Although Esme glo’d up and left me behind in terms of outer beauty, she’s never left me behind or let me down in any other aspect. I’ve learned a lot about Esme in the four years that I’ve gotten to know her, and I can proudly call her one of my best friends. She doesn’t have one mean bone in her body, always has the best intentions and holds one of the most genuine personalities a person can have. Her sense of humor is prime and she won’t hesitate to crack a joke—even at the expense of herself—if it means it’ll make someone laugh and brighten their mood. Her spirit is both vibrant and authentic, and I’m so excited to see her go far in life. -Tanya Ajalli 9
Veronica Kim Opinions Editor “Jet-setter”
I first met Veronica Kim in eighth grade when I was assigned as her buddy to help her get acclimated to Longfellow Middle School. I remember how impressed I was with her English proficiency, considering she had been living in South Korea until the very week I met her, and I still get shivers when recalling her stories of the unimaginable rigor of South Korean schools. I definitely credit Veronica with instigating my extreme and short-lived obsession with K-Pop, and I’m so glad that there was someone I could stress about college with from eighth grade to senior year. Your quiet, diligent and deliberate work ethic will carry you very far, and now that the stresses of high school are behind us, I hope that you can enjoy a few months void of any pressure as I’m sure you and I will both return to our perpetual state of stress this fall. Please let yourself have some fun once in a while because you’ve more than earned it. Also, please try not to freeze to death at the University of Toronto! -Sabrein Gharad
Monique Brianna Ford, also known as Kehlani, Moyance, or simply Mo. Although I’ve always poked fun at Monique for having a basic name, her personality is quite the contrary. Monique is a drama queen. She’s weird, insane and inappropriate, but overall a very put together young lady. Never afraid to speak her mind, yet always mindful of others’ feelings, Monique is anything but basic. Always going out of her way to help others and putting herself last (most of the time), there isn’t one person who can speak negatively on Monique’s character as far as I know. You will never meet someone with a laugh more obnoxiously adorable than Monique’s. You will never meet someone who can over-analyze a situation quite as well as Ms. Monique Ford can. You will never meet someone with more alter egos than Monique Ford. You will never meet someone more selfless than Monique Ford. -Debbie Daniel Eva Bhandary Reporter “Most Low-key”
Monique Ford Social Media Manager “Friendliest”
You know that one girl who you hear a lot of good things about and always see them in the halls talking to all sorts of people? You really want to be friends with this girl but you just can’t push yourself to start a conversation with her? That’s Eva. The first time we had a conversation together—one that she initiated—I found myself regretting that I hadn’t gotten to know her sooner. Eva is the best kind of low-key a person can be: low-key friendly. You wouldn’t initially assume she’s the type, due to her everyday look of “sweatpants, hair tied, chilling with no makeup on,” but Eva is unbelievably sweet and has a warm aura constantly surrounding her. In and out of R-133, Eva is paradoxically both lively and chill. She’s going to become CEO of Buzzfeed without breaking a sweat, gracefully quit to travel the world and somehow end up curing cancer. -Tanya Ajalli
First year staffers
Debbie Daniel “Most likely to work for Complex”
Peter Morell “Most prone to off-topic ranting”
Alisha Smith “Most likely to be an undercover superhero”
Khaled Soubra “The next Raf Simons”
Rob Martine “Most likely to hit his head on a door frame”
Anna Marie Garland “Most likely to work for Pixar”
Caroline Watkins “Most likely to actually be a journalist”
Sarah Therriault “Most efficient”
Graham Gibson “Most enthusiastic”
Jatin Dasgupta “Least likely to take advantage of nepotism”
Helena Doms “Most likely to kick your a**”
Zoe Le Menestrel “Rookie of the year”
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JUNE
Faculty members bid farewell
Some of McLean’s most beloved plan to retire this year Eva Bhandary & Tanya Ajalli Reporter & Editor of Photography
How long have you been at McLean?
What are you going to miss most about teaching?
Allison: Four years. I worked at Edison HS for 12 years doing the same thing. Smith: This is my 11th year here. I’ve also taught in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville. Zablotney: Five years. I’ve taught at Herndon High School and Langston Hughes Middle School.
Allison: The students. I truly think this is the best job in the county. Smith: The regular routine. It’ll definitely be a lifestyle change. Zablotney: The students themselves. The whole experience has been awesome.
What is your favorite memory at McLean?
What are you planning on doing after you leave?
Allison: Every time a student comes to tell me about a scholarship or a program they’ve gotten into that made a difference in their lives. Smith: Taking over the Environmental Science program and putting in the [living] garden. Zablotney: The students. They’re all extremely focused and do what I ask them to.
Allison: My husband and I are building a house on the beach in North Carolina. I’m going to be in a happy place. Smith: I have a long bucket list of items to do, including visiting historical national parks such as Yosemite and the Glaciers. Zablotney: I don’t know exactly. There are a lot of things that I want to do but I’m busy finishing up the school year.
Who has influenced your teaching?
What is one quote that describes your time here?
Allison: Definitely my parents and, of course, the teachers who influenced me while growing up. Smith: Both of my parents, who were teachers, and my college zoology professor, Dr. Abrems. Zablotney: My mother, because she was an extremely good teacher. I grew up learning her strategies. SENIOR EDITION
Dawn Allison Career Center Specialist
Wayne Smith Biology & AP Environmental Science
Allison: “In a world where you can be anything, be yourself.” Smith: “A hint to the wise is sufficient.” Zablotney: “Have a ridiculously good time teaching.”
Gene Zablotney Government & Social Studies Page design & photos by Tanya Ajalli & Eva Bhandary
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My transition to McLean A reflection as a first-year journalism student
Graham Gibson Reporter rowing up as a military kid, I was often at the receiving end of a veritable stream of advice. One of the most important things anybody ever told me is that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Being in the military has perks—getting to see places you otherwise wouldn’t get to see, meeting people across the world—but one of the negative things is that you usually move every three to four years. To me, “the grass is always greener on the other side” means that no matter what happens, you should keep your head held high because things will be okay on the other side, even if that means moving before your senior year. If you’d told me that I would have been signing up for a journalism class or that I would be working on the staff of an amazing, award-winning magazine, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but journalism was the difference between an average senior year and a great one. On the first day, we did an ice breaker game to get the staff comfortable with each other. From that first day of journalism, I could tell that this was different from any other class that I had or would take. The staff did an amazing job all year of not only getting work done, but also creating bonds within the staff, which was particularly valuable to me as a transfer student. I remember the first late night and how it was then that I realized that maybe transferring during my senior year wasn’t a bad thing after all. Some of the most significant experiences that I had were at the journalism conferences; I strongly encourage both new and returning staff members to attend them. We went to three conferences this past school year: the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Convention in Orlando, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Conference
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in New York City and Journalism Day in Chantilly. I was lucky to be the only journalism student to attend all three. Through the NSPA Convention, the CSPA Convention and J-Day, I was able to meet and bond with amazing people; this facet of the conferences was maybe the best part of the experience. The other great part of the experience was having the opportunity to attend informational sessions that are led by some of the top journalists, photographers and yearbook and journalism advisers in the country. These sessions ranged in lessons from how to take pictures when there is low lighting to how to write a better headline. For me, the best sessions that I attended were the ones about team building and leadership within a staff. The Highlander staff is different from any other that you might find elsewhere, and the main reason is because of its great sense of community and teamwork. One of my favorite parts of journalism was writing the reflection at the end of every issue, not only because this gave me a chance to talk about what I liked about the staff, but it also gave me a chance to make suggestions on how to better it. The Highlander is what made my senior year great and not average. Without journalism, I wouldn’t have met the amazing people I did, and I wouldn’t have been able to go to the conventions that taught me so much not just about writing, but who I am as a leader. One of the most common questions I have received is: “If you had been given the choice to stay in Hawaii for your senior year, would you have?” For the longest time, I didn’t have an answer to that question, but journalism has provided the answer. No, I would not have stayed in Hawaii, because my experience here has been amazing. Thanks to journalism, the grass proved to be greener on the other side.
Journalism Bonding—A representation of the community within The Highlander staff. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani)
A World of Fun—While in Orlando, Journalism students explored the city, went to Disney World and took a lot away from the National Scholastic Press Association Convention. (Photo by Graham Gibson)
Closer to Home—While the CSPA Convention held at Columbia University in New York City was closer to home, students still learned a lot and bonded with each other. (Photo by Ms. Benedict)
Page design by Graham Gibson
JUNE
Rejected Highlander articles
Fine pieces of journalism that didn’t quite make the cut (and why) Jatin Dasgupta Reporter
T
he Highlander has acquired a prodigious reputation in the world of high school journalism for its quality of content and the extreme dedication of its student staff. However, sometimes the draconian editorial staff allows real journalistic treasure to slip through its fingers, citing pedantic, arbitrary concerns. Here are some examples.
“New Game: The SR&R Challenge”
This article announced a game to be played among the students to promote understanding of the many rules that guide McLean life. The objective was to try to violate the most rules found in the Student Rights & Responsibilities handbook within a single school week. Reason Cut: The premise of this article and the activities corresponding with it that it would entail were apparently in conflict with certain rules.
“Who Has the Richest Parents?”
This article examined the families of McLean students to determine whose was the single wealthiest in one of the country’s wealthiest communities. Reason Cut: After weeks of research, a consensus could not be reached.
“I Saw the Fairfax Phantom”
In this article, a McLean sophomore described a harrowing and blood-chilling encounter with a genuine spooky specter, a haunting local aberration known colloquially as the Fairfax Phantom, from which he barely escaped alive. Reason Cut: The editors had problems with this article’s formatting.
“Underground Spirit Days”
This article suggested more colorful and interesting spirit days for students to participate in instead of the rather dry facultyapproved ones. Reason Cut: Security forced the Highlander staff to rescind the article due to safety concerns about the suggested “Rollerblade Day” in which selected students would wear masks and rollerblade through the hallways and attempt to avoid being knocked down by “grounders,” the unwheeled student participants. Page design by Jatin Dasgupta
SENIOR EDITION
13
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Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this year’s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters. GOLD ($200+)
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The Barnett Family The Mooney Family The Zeya/ The Przypyszny Family O’Grady Family BRONZE ($50+) The French Family
If you would like to become a patron of The Highlander, please send a check addressed to:
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The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Road McLean, VA 22101
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Travel through time with The Highlander Freshman Year (2012-2013)
ail becomes the Nov. 1 - Google’s Gm email service. world’s most popular a beats Mitt Nov. 6 - Barack Obam cond term. Romney and starts se rricane Sandy Oct. 22 – Nov. 2 - Hu East Coast. wreaks havoc on the the world” Dec. 21 - “The end of le” becomes Sty am Dec. 22 - “Gangn ch one billion the first video to rea views on YouTube. ake” goes viral. February - “Harlem Sh thon Bombing kills Apr.15- Boston Mara others. three and injures 264 ce” (YOLO) On e Liv July - “You Only slang word. becomes a popular
Junior Year (2014-2015)
ats Argentina July 13 - Germany be p. to win 2014 World Cu line er Silv ’s July 14 - Metro completed. afzai becomes Oct. 10 - Malala Yous of the Nobel the youngest winner Peace Prize. ed in Time’s Nov. 20- Selfie Stick list 2014.” “25 best inventions of on Charlie ck ta at Jan. 7 - Terrorist ad and four Hebdo leaves 12 de wounded. use and the Feb. 26 - Marijuana o ounces tw to possession of up legal in s me co of the drug be Washington, DC er: “Yes, for April 24 - Caitlyn Jenn es, I am a all intents and purpos woman.” e Court rules June 26 - The Suprem sex marriage. 5-4 in favor of same Images obtained under Creative Commons licenses from: Fibonacci Blue, Ellen DeGeneres, Pete Souza, Southbank Center, Brian Gratwicke, Anthony Antonello, Olivier Ortelpa, National Institutes of Health, Vanessa Cadamuro, Johnny McMenamin, Mark Olsen, Aaron Tang, World Health Organization, Nick Hubbard, Danilo Borges, Warner Bros.
SENIOR EDITION
Sophomore Year (2013-2014)
July - After George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the #BlackLivesMatter movement begins Oct. 1 – 16 - Government shutdown Sept. 3 -“What Does the Fox Say?” is released Nov. 19 -“Selfie” becomes Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year. December - The Ebola virus epidemic begins in West Africa. March 2 - The Oscar Selfie breaks the record for the most retweeted tweet of 2014. April15 – #BringBackOurGirls: An estimated 276 girls and women are abducted from a school and held hostage in Nigeria.
Senior Year (2015-2016)
July 20 – Cuba and the U.S. reestablish full diplomatic relations. Dec.18 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the highest-grossing film release of 2015. Jan.1 - 2015 becomes hottest year on record. January - “Snowzilla” becomes the biggest DC snowstorm in decades. Jan. 28 - The World Health Organization announces an outbreak of the Zika virus. March 22 - Three coordinated bombings in Brussels, Belgium, kill at least 32 and injure at least 250. ISIS claims responsibility for the attacks. May 4 - Donald Trump becomes the presumptive nominee of the Republican party for the presidential race of 2016.
Page design & reporting by Sabrein Gharad & Alisha Smith
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GET THE HIGHLANDER EVERYWHERE YOU GO! Go to our website www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on Twitter @MHSHighlandernews Like us on Facebook The Highlander Newsmagazine
years t four the x e n be The ang: “ finitely not herish h Z a i ill de Oliv ut c r life w your life, b of your u o y f f o ut ing ears o ep o best y mories, st brace be e e m tru the m t zone, e r and stay e ake or comf sty teenag hat you m is e g an an you are. W experienc l o !” o to wh high scho remember r ll u of yo what you’ ly t c exa
Rose Sayd ahmat: “Th e best thin was take th g I did in h e SAT befo igh school re junior ye a huge stre ar— that re ss and I fe lieved lt more co my last tw n o years of high schoo fident going into ahead of l knowing the game that I was . This also take more g ave me th subject te e time to st s as I ende which help d up takin ed my app g eight, lications fo r college.”
Billy Meara: “My advice to the e you ic ngins is to not take the easy dv dison: “A a M e ry b o route during high school. My AP C rs— ing senio rst fi cla rd to upcom sses have always been the a h to work g in tt le mo prepared st interesting in my schedule, rt don’t sta r, d n te s a r e m te s e and s sometimes I regret not me econd se f your tak go until s o ing more of them while I still ft ugh dra first could. e th y have a ro b e Don’t think you can’t ssay don college e r year.” handle it; pushing yourself is nio day of se underrated.”
Thoma s Birc ha bigges t advic ll: “I’d sa y my e wou in mind ld be t t o keep import hat althoug h grad ant, t he es are everyt hing a y do not n m d shou your w ean ld o ability rth or sense not define to suc of self ce . Y throug h ted ed academ our ious e ically under xams the p while factor ressure sd of ot intellig oes not refl her ec en more t ce. Essentia t your true han yo ll ur GPA y, you are .”
Seniors share advice Words of wisdom for underclassmen Ethan Cherry & Esme Tabra Sports Editor & Advertising Manager
an: Mah c M le hia Cynt u; peop ly as o r y “Do care nea nk i t don’ as you th h muc
rlook : “Don’t ove Mac Sheikerz that alth; make sure your mental he y to out of your da e tim ke ta u yo hang that you love, do something l and el friends, eat w out with some relax.”
Jessica M onroe: “M y advice be to stay would involved, w hether it’s clubs, ban sports, d, anythin g really, b it is where ecause y fun and m ou will have the m ake the m ost ost mean friendships. ingful Not to m ention co like an invo lleges lved stude nt!” SENIOR EDITION
Ellie T ho underc mas: “My la a kind to ssmen is to dvice to people alway s be simple , but . That might sound effect it’s a mazing o have o ne act of k indnes the n othe s can rs. Bein and ge g feel im nuine can empathic p s time to ossible, but ometimes care f t aking o unqua ntifiab r others mak the le diffe e rence. s an ”
ice my adv s s e u g “I y from Howley: time awa e m Kathryn o ut s e to tak r hang o would be d go to games o back on an ou look studying er s. When y d n ie rememb fr r ’t u n o o y w h it u w yo your ior year, you wrote ber t a h your sen w r remem scores o your AP ut; you’ll o b ces a s y essa experien e th d n college a t le you me the peop you had.” Page design by Bryan Chung 17
Senior
Highs &Lows Seniors remember their best and worst memories from their years “Freshman year, when we went to at McLean Universal Studios in Orlando. “The spirit and socializing during the Friday night football games.”
It was so unlike anything I had ever seen before—and we won everything at the competition. It was all so new and bright and crazy.” -Eric Juneau
“Hitting the game-winning goal against Langley in lacrosse this year.” -Jack Benson
“10th grade, when Ashwin asked my Homecoming date literally the same day as me, except earlier.”
-Andrew Luo “Throwing a rager sophomore year.” -Josephine Oakley
-Howard Charles
“When I almost got dunked on, mid-game, against South Lakes this year.” 18
-Tristan Liu
“The way I dressed freshman year.”
-Kiel Posner
“[In] sophomore year I wanted to skip school, so I called the attendance office and pretended to be my dad. They called him at work and said, ‘Yo, your kid just called us and pretended to be you.’ So they had me sit with the assistant principal and talk about stuff.” -Abraham Haji JUNE
“Beating Madison by 20 points “Babysitting for Mrs. on senior night.” Tran and bonding with her son.” -Jessica Monroe
“Winning a Maestro Award for my solos in jazz band during the Chicago trip this year.” -Nick Anthony
-Hannah Aronson
“Ms. Shin giving me Infinite Jest.” -Sulaiman Behsudi
“Getting a pie in the face before a Langley game” -Patrick Dolan
“I ran away from the school grounds during that bomb threat and spilled my coffee all over myself.”
“Getting a state ring for gymnastics.”
-Rojeen Kamali
-Charlie Gabriel
“When we found out all of “Getting a 0/40 on our group message’s texts were a math test.” getting sent to someone’s mom, too.” -Reid Madison -Jameson O’Donnell
“Throwing up in the “One time I walked into the hallway on the third day of boys bathroom and found freshman year.” “Signing up for my SAT a footlong fish in the weekend between AP the toilet.” finals and AP exams.” -Camille Norton -Henning Jensen -Eleanor Chinn
Reporting & page design by Nora Hashem, Eleanor Patrick, Bora Zaloshnja & Liam Zeya
SENIOR EDITION
19
Virginia Hampden-Sydney College George Carter William French
Esthetic Institute Clare Brandon
College of William and Mary Evelyn Basham Thomas Birchall Autumn Lee Brenner Howard Charles Shelley Collins Keely Copperthite Rebecca Deitch Alicia Draper Noushon Fatemi Abraham Haji Madeleine Kelleher Zoe Le Menestrel Michelle Martin Joseph Moriarty Adam O’Connell Elizabeth Radcliffe Sarah Raymond Elizabeth Thomas
Old Dominion Univ. Danielle Goldstein Rachel Short Jonathan Sorto
Marymount University Sandeep Newnaha Leena Raza Gabriela Sainz
Bridgewater College
Joseph Shue
Virginia Wesleyan Univ. Lydia Erickson
University of Richmond
Madison Kloster
Radford University
Rachel Barrett Charles Tawil
George Mason University
Micheale Asmerom Shirin Dashti Jesse Ducharme Aram Ghanbari Xavier Hegenbart Naseem Kolyani Nour Koudmani Matthew Livingston
NOVA Angeles Antezana-Panozo Alexander Bachman Estifanos Bisrat Ahmad Clark Byron Cormany Alyssa Cuco Adams Davis Joshua Delgado Destiny DeMarino Joseph Duffield Mohamed Elhaddad Fadi Farid Monique Ford Anthony Gagliardo Berk Gebelek Carter Grose Ecem Gulhan Dena Hajelsafi Jennifer Hillock Christophe Jelinski Aritra Kazi Morgan Koerner
Danielle Maynard Alanna Milstein Katherine Mullet Abdulmateen Oyediran Samantha Remer Seifallah Sharara Asma Tabra Kelly Thu David Koomson Esther Lim Eldin Mandy Aleksei Miles Jonathan Moya-Quiroz Abdullah Nadar Conner Negroni Hwa Hee Oh Isabella Phillips-Tapia Samuel Pruyn Anai Ramos-Bonilla Serggi Ricapa-Rodriguez Deisy Rodriguez Diego Romero-Moya Andres Salguedo Graham Schmidt Baheeh Sefat James Smith Omid Soltani Sadr Christopher Stolze Bajani Tshimuanga Justin Vanegas Danielle Walker Sean Warner
International Colleges and Universities Smriti Ghimire—College in Nepal Luka Jukic—University of Glasgow (Scotland) Jae You Kim—University of Toronto (Canada) Annabelle Lee—King’s College London (England) Jeongeon Park—Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Tech Anthony Reichenbach—College in the U.K. Emily Robinson—University of Edinburgh (Scotland) Kentaro Sekino—College in Japan Madeleine Tripp—Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) Fatima Zahra—Non-U.S. College
VCU Haneen Abdelhalim Jacob Acton Stella Assefa Sulaiman Behsudi Jack Benson Eva Bhandary Mariah Coffee Dev Doiron Jackson Ferguson Lindsay Hart Allen Hertz
Christopher Newport Univ.
Rafa Khan Justin Kwak Tariq Masterson Lucy Mulligan Matthew Palombi Kiel Posner Avinash Poudel Sabrina Sanchez Samuel Snaeversson Adil Syed Sarah Therriault
University of Virginia Habib Karaky Bibhas Amatya Shuqiao Chai Emma Chamberlayne Jin Young Choi Claire Dalby Caitlin Dozier Madeleine Engel Eva Femia Madelaine Gamboa Zachary Glissman Nina Hankins Rachel Ho Lucy Hopkins Yishu Hu Jefferson Huynh Rojeen Kamali
Yonsei Kim Megan Leimkuhler Maya Lezzam Kyle Nguyen Richard Ohr Meaghan O’Reilly Tasman Ridgely Julia Riedy Shivani Saboo Matthew Steelberg Emma Steinson Angela Tran Jamie Wertz Adelaide Wilkerson Jin Yoo Liam Zeya
Virginia Military Institute Jonathan Clines Patrick Dolan
Abigail Reiman
James Madison University Joshua Abbott Jordan Blum Maya Brubaker Jacqueline Bruner Anthony Capon John Corvari Deborah Daniel Annabel Edelman Carla Lee
Virginia Tech
Deniz Atak Ayse Bal Filip Boshkovski Daniela Cadena Coro Krystal Chao Erica Cheng Yasmin Dambo Glenn Feit Benjamin Galdo Thomas Grady Abdelrahman Hammad Kaitlyn Hedrick Seth Hendrickson Henry Howe Gelsey Ledezma Juho Lee Magen Lee Raymond Lin Harrison Lloyd Christopher Lo Andrew Luo Emily Mardiks Nicholas Maynard
Jung Woo Min Nadim Najjar Jameson O’Donnell Ashley Oh Sarah Park Camille Paulston Azita Peters Reece Peters Charles Pruett Caitlin Pyne Olivia Reed Katie Rizzolo Natalie Seppi Min Choul Shin Alisha Smith Caroline Swarm Elizabeth Swarm Christopher Tan Nathalie Thomas Carly Westerman Sydney Winn Ivan Wong Arsham Zamani
Other Plans
University of Mary Washington
Eilise Mahoney Meryl Menezes
Mary Bowers Kane Donaghy Lila Duvall John Gartner Shelby Kemeny Robert Martine Jonathan Pilsch Amber Tran Ha
Tristan Liu Reid Madison William Meara Tammy Nguyen Katherine Perry Aidan Phipps Leith Rayes Trevor Schleppenbach Jonathan Sperling John Wehner
Matthew Fichthorn—Career Education Cecil Forest—Americorps Christian Franco—Two year college Helen Froats—Gap year James Grajales—Americorps Yesenia Guerrero—Postgraduate studies at McLean Aidan Guevara—Postgraduate studies at McLean Mads-Henning Jensen—Two year college Liam Kelly—Career Education Jose Maneechi—Employed Daniel Musikanth—Cultural program in Israel Connor Priebe—Enlistment in the Air Force Tamanna Rahmani—Career Education Jacob Russo—Returning to McLean
Photo by Andrew Bossi obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license.
Alabama
University of Alabama Elizabeth Maness Liam O’Grady Samford University Emmaline Crowers
Arizona
Arizona State University Carlos Corado Maya Dutt
California
California Lutheran Univ. Graham Gibson Occidental College Alessandra Pelliccia San Diego State University Delaney Gallagher Univ. of California, Davis Marissa Jacquemin Univ. of California, L.A. Avery Edson Nicole Sheehan Univ. of California, San Diego Ali Ghosn
Colorado
Colorado State University Emma Haldane Wesley Romary Univ. of Colorado, Boulder Khaled Binmubarak Jessica Monroe Univ. of Northern Colorado Kathryn Derby Claire Gray U.S. Air Force Academy Mackenzie McCune
Connecticut
Connecticut College Josephine Oakley
Florida
Florida Atlantic University Gwenyth Gagne Jacksonville University Alexander Mansfield Univ. of Central Florida Mia Cleary
Florida (cont’d) Univ. of Florida Candy Li Alexander Weischedel Univ. of Miami Karen Shedlock Brandon Wells
Georgia
Emory University Hyung Jin Bae Nora Hashem Georgia State University Raina Amirghaffari Georgia Institute of Technology Anna Harris Bryce Huber Savannah College of Art & Design Xenia de Cazotte Anna Marie Garland
Idaho
Brigham Young University, Idaho Shelby Armstrong Joshua Bohn Brianna Johnson Cannon Johnson Charles Karony Erika Mendenhall Madison Payne
Illinois
Northwestern University Martha McCoy John Posey Univ. of Chicago Peter Morell Univ. of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign Hyo Ahn Yeon Cho Brian Zheng Wheaton College Greta Liebler
Indiana
Indiana University, Bloomington Isabella Norton Michael Petrosinelli Purdue University Sarafina Gonzalez Ethan Guenther Benjamin Mardiks George Shields
Kansas
University of Kansas Emma Young
Massachusetts (cont’d)
Univ. of Kentucky Emily Herbert
Williams College Ashwin Dasgupta Jatin Dasgupta Veronica Wolff
Louisiana
Michigan
Kentucky
Louisiana State Univ. Tanner Theisen Tulane University Caroline Griffis
Maine
Bowdoin Univ. Michael Harris Univ. of Maine Seentia Islam
Maryland
Univ. of Maryland, College Park Antara Bansal Zhiwei Han U.S. Naval Academy Frank Bradley Harford Community College Matthew Collins Johns Hopkins University Andrew Ko Sion Lee Hope Sullivan
Massachusetts
Brandeis University Bijan Amir-Alikhani Boston College Isabelle Wyerman Boston University Thomas Kelty Xiyou Wang Clark University Victor Bonsu Harvard University Gulenay Saydahmat Northeastern Univ. Eleanor Allison Tufts University Grace Fabrycky Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst Eleanor Patrick Wellesley College Sabrein Gharad
Hillsdale College Brandon Hill Univ. of Michigan Ethan Cherry Hugh Collins Gillian Wright
Minnesota
Univ. of Minnesota, Twin Cities McDermott Sheikerz St. Olaf College Jeffrey Nolan
Missouri
Univ. of Missouri, Columbia Caroline Watkins Washington Univ. in St. Louis Ashlee Chung
New Hampshire
Dartmouth University Grace Lee
New Jersey
Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick Rebecca Stewart Rider University Mary Sullivan
New York
Adelphi University Catherina Suh Baruch College of CUNY Etry Gaugau Binghamton University Bomeun Ro Cornell University Iris Gou Kun Xing Crystal Zhao Culinary Institute of America Brian Andrade Fashion Institute of Technology Alexander Fan Khaled Soubra
New York (cont’d)
Fordham University Auden Dykes Taylor Stirling Hamilton College David Kagan Juilliard School Tristan Baban Marist College Hailey Guinn Camille Norton New York University Sam Kim Antonio Vazquez Alexander Yuan Pratt Institute Min Choe Rensselaer Polytech. Institute Stephanie Su SUNY Maritime College Thomas Buckman SUNY - Plattsburgh Lars Lunde Syracuse University Bora Zaloshnja
North Carolina
Davidson College Hannah Aronson Duke University Susie Choi Jade Davis Kathryn Howley Christopher Murphy Elon University Gabriella Creeser Mason Pratt High Point Univ. Brooke Lyons Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro Elise Holliday Wake Forest Univ. Ryan Creeser
Ohio
Case Western Reserve Univ. Sadiye Cam Cleveland Institute of Music Eric Juneau Hiram College Steven Penn Kenyon College Jacob Barnett
Ohio (cont’d)
Kent State University Anna Penn Miami University of Ohio Emily Browne Eleanor Chinn Maya Falicov Cameron Lombardi Sarah Siegel Eric Wilcox Ohio University Karynne Baker Ohio State University Matthew Evanko James Foster Jane Sahlin Xavier University Christopher Cardwell Conor Grammes
Oregon
Reed College Jamie Lindner
Pennsylvania
Allegheny College Rachel Montgomery Graham Tufts Bucknell University John Zele Clarion Univ. of Pennsylvania Cochise Wanzer Drexel University Sarah Averth Kalie McMichael Benjamin Miller Gettysburg College Cory Madison Penn State Nicholas Bielamowicz Nicholas Malhotra Emily Partigan Pritha Sandell Olivia Zhang Saint Joseph’s University Carla Rodriguez Swarthmore College Michelle Ma Temple University Naomi Williams University of Pittsburgh Cynthia McMahan Julia St. John
Rhode Island
Rhode Island School of Design Samuel Brumbaugh Brown University Allison Meakem
South Carolina
The Citadel Sebastian Renda College of Charleston Matthew Hanusik Nicolas Studds Clemson Univ. Kaela Wilbur Univ. of South Carolina Janie Greenwood Christopher Haley Samuel Roomian
Tennessee
Belmont Univ. Charlotte Gabriel Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville Nora Smith Vanderbilt University Cha Dol Kim William Rindone
Texas
Rice University Karen Wood Southern Methodist Univ. Maeve Harris Texas A&M Juho Lee Taylor Williams Univ. of Dallas Mary Truz Univ. of Houston Derek Lore
Vermont
Middlebury College Olivia Bravo Harrison Govan
West Virginia
West Virginia Univ. Tanya Ajalli Brundha Akkupalli Patrick Croke Andrea Day-Valdez Sabrina Imperato Minjae Song Shepherd Univ. Riley Thomas
Wisconsin
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison Jason Wang
Washington, D.C. American Univ. David McCarthy George Washington Univ. Helena Doms Bomi Kim Aisha Rashid Georgetown Univ. Alexandra Babyak Molly Dunlap John Przypyszny Michael Robbins Howard Univ. Devika Chadha
Utah
Brigham Young Univ. Zachary Alvarez Emily Carr Katerina Clark University of Utah Lucile Reese Frederick Zwirb Utah Valley Univ. Ryan Magelby
Special thanks to Dawn Allison Map by Eric Wilcox, borders by Min Choe & Anna Marie Garland Page design by Jatin Dasgupta, Lucy Hopkins, Henry Howe & Khaled Soubra
Attention parents and rising college freshmen: With more college freshmen getting burned out and dropping out than ever before, now is the time to get expert tutoring on how to be academically, financially and socially successful in college!
America’s College Drop-Out Epidemic Dept. of Education: Almost 41% of students who start college won’t finish College Atlas: 30% of college students fail and drop out after their first year Some universities have a first-year failure rate as high as 80%
What: Tutoring to prepare rising college freshmen for their challenging first year. 3 sessions/2 hours each When/where: July sessions - time and place are flexible Who: Joan Shetterly, a former McLean teacher with 29 years of high school and university teaching experience Early registration before June 20th: $90 per session Regular registration: $100 per session Final free session for parents at the end of July
Topics include: Academic:
Financial:
Social:
Which classes? Credit card or no? Roommate challenges Grading systems Working or no? Sororities/fraternities Time management Where did my money go? Date rape Knowing your professor
24
Jake Barnett
James Carver
Joan Shetterly 2 Masters Degrees from NYU Educational Psychology Degree Special Education Certified
Plus: Critical information from current college students, professors and educational professionals
jshetterly@hotmail.com (703)201-5166 JUNE
Bryan Chung
Throwback tunes
The best nostalgic hit music, as voted on by our seniors Sarah Therriault Reporter
Freshman Year 1. Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 2. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen 3. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye ft. Kimbra 4. We Are Young - fun. 5. Glad You Came - The Wanted 6. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons 7. Gangnam Style - Psy 8. What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction 9. Royals - Lorde 10. Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO 11. Starships - Nicki Minaj 12. We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris 13. We Can’t Stop - Miley Cyrus 14. Some Nights - fun. 15. Harlem Shake - Baauer
Junior Year 1. Blank Space - Taylor Swift 2. Trap Queen - Fetty Wap 3. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars 4. Take Me to Church - Hozier 5. Can’t Feel My Face - The Weeknd 6. Shut Up and Dance - Walk The Moon 7. Habits (Stay High) - Tove Lo 8. Bad Blood - Taylor Swift 9. Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj 10. Sugar - Maroon 5 11. Boom Clap - Charli XCX 12. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran 13. Animals - Maroon 5 14. Stay With Me - Sam Smith 15. Lean On - Major Lazer & DJ ft. MØ
Sophomore Year 1. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj 2. Wake Me Up - Avicii 3. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift 4. Rude - Magic! 5. Counting Stars - OneRepublic 6. Safe and Sound - Capital Cities 7. Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey 8. All of Me - John Legend 9. Pompeii - Bastille 10. I Love It - Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX 11. Happy - Pharrell Williams 12. Timber - Pit Bull ft. Ke$ha 13. Fancy - Iggy Azalea ft. Carli XCX 14. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainer 15. Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz
Senior Year 1. Hotline Bling - Drake 2. Hello - Adele 3. Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots 4. Cake by the Ocean - DNCE 5. Pillowtalk - Zayn 6. Roses - The Chainsmokers ft ROZES 7. I Took a Pill in Ibiza - Mike Posner 8. Hands to Myself - Selena Gomez 9. Love Yourself - Justin Bieber 10. 7 Years - Lukas Graham 11. Sorry - Justin Bieber 12. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding 13. Me, Myself, & I - G-Eazy ft. Bebe Rexha 14. My House - Flo Rida 15. Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift
Page design by Sarah Therriault Images obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
SENIOR EDITION
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Sweet and savage senior superlatives
Sometimes, reputations can speak volumes Helena Doms & Caroline Watkins Reporters
Cannon Johnson Most Likely to be Offered the Kid’s Menu
Caroline Watkins
Most Likely to End Up on a Reality TV Show
Alex Fan
Emily Robinson Most Likely to Get in a Twitter Feud with a Politician
Abdel Hammad
Most Likely to become Instagram Famous
Next Face of Vogue
Most Likely to get Roasted by Drake
Trevor Schleppenbach
Thomas Kelty
Mack McCune
Most Likely to be the Inspiration Behind T-Swift’s Next Song
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Bora Zaloshnja
*Based on a poll of 68 seniors
Most Likely to Get Their Own Late Night Talk Show
Most Likely to Star on Survivor
Page design by Helena Doms & Caroline Watkins
JUNE
Jameson O’Donnell & Reece Peters “It’s like eating a whole cake by yourself. When you start everything is awesome. But by the time you get halfway through, you think, ‘What the heck am I doing?’ and all you want to do is stop.” -Reece Peters (Photos courtesy of Reece Peters)
Jon Clines “You’re not going to be the same person you were as a freshman, but you can control who you turn into.” (Photos courtesy of Jon Clines)
Seniors “glo-up”
Revealing the class of 2016’s transformations from freshman year
Marissa Jacquemin “Although it has been excruciatingly painful at times, every moment has been meaningful. I wouldn’t take it back for the world.” (Photos courtesy of Marissa Jacquemin)
SENIOR EDITION
Jack Posey “High school has been heaven, hell, and purgatory in equal parts.” (Photos courtesy of Jack Posey)
Elise Holliday “It’s gotta rain sometimes for a flower to bloom.” (Photos courtesy of Elise Holliday)
Reporting & page design by Brooke Lyons & Lila Duvall
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A decade away
Where 2016 graduates see themselves in 10 years with special “Working needs kids and raising a family!”
Thomas Birchall
Raina Amirghaffari
In 10 years I see myself using my “degree Environmental Studies & Policy to conduct research
Ray Clardy Iris Gou
I’d have to say I see myself in Maybe working “wandering...perhaps some sort of transcendental “ for a [Benefit] clutching
regarding the detrimental effects of animal agriculture on the planet, and I hope to also operate an animal sanctuary while doing so.”
some weathered staff Corporation or engraved with Celtic runes as a social impact I trudge the sea cliffs of Mayo company like Be either a [Physical garbed only in a moth-eaten TerraCycle.” overcoat and windswept Therapist] or [Athletic Trainer] beard endowed with a biblical volume too for a professional sports team, capable of rivaling Michael Stipe’s current I would also love to travel, facial adornment. I’d love to supervise a Jell-O factory too. Dem employee have my own place, not be in debt.” discounts!”
“
In 10 years I see myself either as “celebutante a Chicago theatre tastemaker/ or [an] obscure NYC back-alley performance artist— nothing in between.”
Jack Posey
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Leena Raza & Danielle Walker
Bryan Chung
Sarah Park
Jacob Acton
“
Hopefully, in New York City becoming a licensed psychiatrist under an NYU residency and living in a tiny home in the Bronx, or pretty much living anywhere that isn’t McLean or Virginia.”
JUNE
Anna Marie Garland
Tina Chai
“
I see myself probably “ for some Anna Harris sortworking of animation or illustration company.” In bed, asleep “cutest with the world’s dog at my Eric Juneau
Hopefully out of grad school and becoming some version of Meredith Grey from Grey’s feet.” Anatomy.”
Alex Fan
I see myself working “oboist as an orchestral and teaching
sleeping as a small studio of oboe “Scarcely a Vogue editor.” students.”
Johnny Choi Dev Doiron
“
I hope to see myself starting my own business as an entrepreneur or backpacking around the world, filming everything I see before me.”
“
George Shields
I see myself in 10 years graduated from I see myself DJ-ing on the college with a masters main stage at Ultra Music degree [in economics] Festival where I just play and traveling all over the [“Sandstorm” by Darude] on world before I have to repeat until my set is finished.” go live with my parents [because] I’ll be poor.”
“
I’d like to be Jamie Wertz Nadim Najjar “policy working at a public In a suit on Wall Street.” I see myself taking down focused think “ “ exploitative agribusinesses tank or writing for a as an environmental lawyer publication focused on while doing yoga every day to investigative political maintain my sanity.” journalism.”
Emily Robinson
SENIOR EDITION
29
C la ss o f
20
16
Class of 2016 college commits Senior athletes continue to excel in college John Corvari & Ashwin Dasgupta Sports Editor & Editor-in-Chief
PATRICK DOLAN
FOOTBALL
HARRISON GOVAN
BRANDON HILL
DAVID KAGAN
TOM SHUE
Middlebury College Linebacker 8 years
Hillsdale College Offensive Line 4 years
Hamilton College Running Back 12 years
Bridgewater College Linebacker 4 years
VMI Tight End 6 years
SWIM & DIVE
CHRIS MURPHY
VERONICA WOLFE
Duke University Freestyle & Backstroke 12 years
Williams College Butterfly & Distance Freestyle 13 years
WRESTLING
RACHEL MONTGOMERY
Allegheny College Mid-Distance Freestyle 13 years
SOCCER
VICTOR BONSU Clark University Forward 8 years
COCHISE WANZER III
LYDIA ERICKSON Virginia Wesleyan College Goalkeeper 15 years
Clarion University 195 lbs. 7 years
VOLLEYBALL
JOSEPHINE OAKLEY
AUTUMN BRENNER
Connecticut College Middle Blocker 4 years
William & Mary Setter 8 years
This list does not include students who plan to walk-on 32
JUNE
CREW
MIA CLEARY University of Central Florida Starboard 4 years
THOMAS BUCKMAN
SUNY Maritime College Outfielder 10 years
GRACE FABRYCKY Tufts University Port 4 years
JON CLINES
Virginia Military Institute Pitcher 14 years
FIELD HOCKEY
SENIOR EDITION
ISABELLE WYERMAN Boston College Bisweptual 3 years
MATT COLLINS
CONOR GRAMMES
BASEBALL
Harford Community College Centerfielder 12 years
SOFTBALL
BELLA NORTON Indiana University Catcher 13 years
KARYNNE BAKER Ohio University Midfield 8 years
KAELA WILBUR Clemson University Port 4 years
Xavier University Shortstop 12 years
OLIVIA BRAVO Middlebury College Second Base 11 years
TRACK
DANIELLE MAYNARD George Mason University Sprinter & Jumper 4 years
LACROSSE
ALESSANDRA PELLICCIA Occidental College Midfield 7 years
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